GoDaddy announced on Thursday that it has acquired domain name aftermarket company Afternic as it prepares for new TLDs. The company will keep Afternic’s staff in the Boston Area.

GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving had this to say: “Having the right domain name is vital, no matter your venture. GoDaddy is working to bring the ‘domain aftermarket’ together with new registrations and make both super-simple to access. Our customers need an easy way to buy the name they want, regardless of whether it’s new or has been registered previously. This acquisition forms a registrar-led process that creates faster and more trusted transactions across the board.”

The company says the acquisition bolsters ICANN’s upcoming TLD program with Afternic’s Domain Listing Service (DLS) including names at over 100 different registrars (including 18 of the top-20).

“The success of the new TLDs and the aftermarket relies on a tight-knit group of diverse registrars and Afternic has done tremendous work to bring everyone together,” said GoDaddy Vice President and General Manager Mike McLaughlin.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

GoDaddy is also acquiring domain parking service SmartName and NameFind, a service aimed at helping entrepreneurs find brand names for their businesses. GoDaddy says NameMedia will continue to operate its BuyDomains.com marketplace and website development group, and CEO Kelly Conlin will remain in the role, while also becoming a strategic advisor to the Afternic management team.

Image: Afternic